Microsoft's Surface Laptop will lure you in with Alcantara fabric, then cage you into Windows 10 S.

Great keyboard; High contrast; color accurate display; Alcantara fabric feels wonderful; Solid processor performance

Windows 10 S restricts app selection; Needs more ports; Disappointing hard drive

It does not come easy for us to draw a definitive conclusion about the Microsoft Surface Laptop i7. The Intel Core i7-7660U is and remains a double-edged sword. On the one hand, we have the disappointing results with the Turbo performance, and it appears as though Microsoft has learned nothing from...

better graphics performance on account of the Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640; faster Samsung SSD; unique Alcantara texture; outstandingly good speakers; support for Windows Hello; wrist rest remains cool; quiet fan; long battery life

relatively loud coil whine; difficult-to-open case gets in the way of repairs and upgrades; poor I/O; throttling - also during graphics loads; high premium for the i7

Microsoft knows how to make sleek hardware. If the Surface Book is handsome but bulky, and the Surface Pro is more minimalistic but suffers a less-compelling keyboard, then the Surface Laptop falls happily in-between. You don't get a fancy detachable display, no, or even a 360-degree hinge.

Handsome; considered design; Freedom from dongles; Performance and battery life are solid; Easy upgrade route to Windows 10 Pro

No USB-C limits futureproofing; $1,299 version is the minimum spec worth considering; No SD card slot; Windows 10 S is very locked-down

The original Surface products from Microsoft -- the first-gen Surface Pro and Surface RT -- had everyone asking at the time: "Why is Microsoft making a tablet" The latest Surface has everyone asking a different question: "Why is Microsoft making a laptop

The Surface Laptop has a slim, modern design and comes in a selection of cool colors; Battery life is very good, and the keyboard and touchpad are both excellent

The included Windows 10 S operating system can only install preapproved apps by default (but it's upgradable); The long-term life of the fabric covering remains a question; The cooler colors are only available in more expensive configurations, and the port selection is limited, skipping USB-C...

When released the original Surface Pro five years ago, the mobile market was completely different – Windows tablets were an afterthought and weren't the svelte and snappy performers you can buy today.

Impeccable materials and build quality; PixelSense display; Alcantara covered keyboard; Windows Hello face sign-in; Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Audio

Windows 10 S; Budget SSD; Only one USB port; No SD card reader

I feel like I always start a Surface review the same way, so here goes: I've always wanted Microsoft to build a laptop. A couple of years ago, Microsoft nearly did that with the Surface Book but it wasn't enough.

Free upgrade to Windows 10 Pro; Great balance of power and thinness; Beautiful touchscreen

Few apps on Windows 10 S; Alcantara fabric requires care and maintenance; No SD card slot or USB-C

When you look at the landscape of ultraportable laptops, there's a race to be the thinnest on the block, but we're starting to see diminishing returns as a result of that quest. The Surface Laptop stands out with a design that dares to be different, and it pays off.

We're not thrilled that the base model for the Surface Laptop comes with just 4 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD for $999 - 4GB of RAM is skimpy by 2017's standards. A more robust configuration will cost you $1,299 and comes with 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD, but $1,299 doesn't quite feel like a very...

Beautiful aluminum design with a premium build – no flexing; ready to take a fair amount of punishment while going from classroom to classroom; large trackpad and spacious ergonomic keyboard; great performance; bold color options with a matching colored material surrounding the keyboard; comes with...

Pricing is reasonable but not quite student-friendly; no USB-C

Microsoft Surface Laptop review: The Surface Laptop offers enough for you to really enjoy working or just consuming content on this device.

If you haven't heard about Chrome, Firefox, or Opera, and using only MS IE (Edge), this laptop should be a good fit for you. A fast computer with excellent screen and trendy design, what else you could ask for, right

Sleek design

Windows 10S